Phoenix Convention Center

The newly expanded Phoenix Convention Center is quickly becoming regarded as the best in the country. The building’s architecture conveys spirit of place through its use of desert forms and stone reminiscent of the state’s striated stone canyons.

This two-phase expansion offers four levels and 2.2 million square feet of new convention center space rising on two adjacent sites in downtown Phoenix designed to cater to the needs of the customer. The design minimizes the impact of the structure by placing the primary exhibition space 55 feet below ground, locating truck docks below, and adding 190,000 square feet of exhibit space at 55 feet above street level. Because of this, the street grid was maintained and the building’s height was significantly reduced. This strategy for exhibit hall placement allows a much better street-level experience with retail, food courts, ballroom entrances and public atria that re-open connections to other adjacent highly-used public buildings.

The building is integrated well in to the city, with hidden truck docks and entrances on all four sides of the building, encouraging pedestrian movement and interaction. A signature design element is a stunning, 90-foot glass and stone atrium that links the convention center’s pre-function areas to Phoenix Symphony Hall and allows foot traffic through the building to keep an existing street in play. The building also has achieved LEED certification Silver.